Image communication apparatus, image communication method, and memory medium

ABSTRACT

In an Internet facsimile apparatus, it is an object of the invention to provide means for notifying the user of details of a message disposition notification situation (MDN) of a transmission image. When E-mail data is sent, an MDN for E-mail to be sent is requested and communication management information of the sent E-mail is updated on the basis of a reception result of reply E-mail responsive to the MDN request.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/685,588, filed Mar. 13, 2007, which is a divisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/888,547, filed Jun. 26, 2001, which issued asU.S. Pat. No. 7,685,239 on Mar. 23, 2010, the entire contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an image communicating apparatus which cantransmit and receive E-mail through a network such as Internet or thelike and, more particularly, to a delivery status notification or amessage disposition notification of an image transmitted by E-mail.

2. Related Background Art

In recent years, an Internet facsimile apparatus has been proposed as animage communicating apparatus which can transmit and receive E-mailthrough a network such as Internet or the like. In the Internetfacsimile apparatus, read image data is transmitted as an image to areceiver by a method whereby it is attached as a file to the E-mail.

The transmitted E-mail is sent to the receiver on the destination sidethrough one or more mail servers on the network by a store-and-forwardsystem. Therefore, a transmission result of the image data in theInternet facsimile apparatus is merely nothing but a transmission resultto the mail servers. Whether the image data has certainly been deliveredto the receiver or not and, further, whether the contents of the imagehave been read by a person who receives or not cannot be confirmed fromthe contents disclosed in a communication management report or atransmission result report.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to realize a message dispositionnotification of a transmission image in an Internet facsimile apparatus.That is, it is an object of the invention to provide means for notifyingthe user of details of a message disposition notification situation or adelivery status notification situation of a transmission image in anInternet facsimile apparatus on a transmitter side.

It is another object of the invention to provide effective means forsending a message disposition notification of a received image to thetransmitter side in the Internet facsimile apparatus on a receiver side.

To accomplish the above objects, according to the invention, there isprovided an image communicating apparatus which is connected to anetwork capable of communicating E-mail and has an E-mail communicatingfunction, comprising: E-mail transmitting means for sending E-mail dataaccompanied by an image file; requesting means for requesting replyE-mail corresponding to the sent E-mail when the E-mail data is sent bythe E-mail transmitting means; communication managing means for managingtransmission information of each transmitted E-mail data; and controlmeans for updating the transmission information which is managed by thecommunication managing means on the basis of a reception result of thereply E-mail corresponding to the sent E-mail.

Preferably, there is provided an image communicating apparatus which isconnected to a network capable of communicating E-mail and has an E-mailcommunicating function, comprising: E-mail receiving means for receivingE-mail data accompanied by an image file; detecting means for detectingcontrol information for requesting reply E-mail from the E-mail datareceived by the E-mail receiving means; and notifying means fornotifying the detection of the control information by visualizing meansor monitoring means.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description and the appendedclaims with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of an Internetfacsimile apparatus in an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data construction of communicationmanagement information of a facsimile in the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an E-mail sending process in the Internetfacsimile apparatus in the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processes of received E-mail in theInternet facsimile apparatus in the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an analyzing process of a received MDN inthe Internet facsimile apparatus in the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an output of a communicationmanagement report in the Internet facsimile apparatus in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an output of a transmissionresult report in the Internet facsimile apparatus in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the output of the transmissionresult report in the Internet facsimile apparatus in the firstembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation in the case where E-mail ofa request header ON of a message disposition notification in an Internetfacsimile apparatus in the second embodiment is received;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an output of a receptionresult report in the Internet facsimile apparatus in the secondembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an output of a received imagein the Internet facsimile apparatus in the second embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation in the case where E-mail ofa request header ON of a message disposition notification in theInternet facsimile apparatus in the third embodiment is received;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an output of a received imagein the Internet facsimile apparatus in the third embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of an output of a communicationmanagement report in the Internet facsimile apparatus in the thirdembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the outputting operation of an attachedimage file in the Internet facsimile apparatus in the third embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a system for managing an imagefile attached to received E-mail;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a transmitting procedure of E-mail in anInternet facsimile apparatus in the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a procedure for a DSN analyzing processin step S1711 in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of an output of a communicationmanagement report in the Internet facsimile apparatus in the fourthembodiment;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission result reportwhich is outputted in step S1705 in FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission result reportwhich is outputted in step S1709 in FIG. 17;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a procedure for a mail receiving processof a DSN in an Internet facsimile apparatus in the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission result reportwhich is outputted in step S2207 in FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a reception result reportwhich is outputted in step S2209 in FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a construction of an Internetfacsimile apparatus in the sixth embodiment; and

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a communication managementreport which is outputted in the Internet facsimile apparatus in thesixth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail hereinbelowwith reference to the drawings.

A construction of an Internet facsimile apparatus in the embodiment willbe first described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of the Internetfacsimile apparatus in the embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1-1 denotes a CPU for controlling thefacsimile.

Reference numeral 1-2 denotes an FAX operation unit of the facsimileapparatus. The FAX operation unit 1-2 is constructed by an LCD, an LED,a key panel for inputting, and the like and enables the inputtingoperation such as communication, recording, or the like of thefacsimile. Sound source means such as a speaker or the like for ringingan alarm is also arranged.

Reference numeral 1-3 denotes an image reader for reading an image of afacsimile original to be sent.

Reference numeral 1-4 denotes a record unit for outputting receivedimage data or a main sentence of E-mail, various reports, and the like.

Reference numeral 1-5 denotes an ROM as a memory medium in whichprograms for controlling the facsimile and data according to theembodiment of the invention have been stored. The programs forcontrolling facsimile transmission and reception, transmission andreception of the E-mail, generation, recording, and reading of thereports, the user I/F, and the like have been stored in the ROM 1-5.

Reference numeral 1-6 denotes an RAM for storing various information ofthe facsimile. Communication management information, image data, and thelike which are generated upon transmission and reception have beenstored in the RAM 1-6.

Reference numeral 1-7 denotes an MODEM as a modulating and demodulatingcircuit for performing the transmission and reception of the facsimileto/from a public line (PSTN or ISDN) 1-9.

Reference numeral 1-8 denotes a network control unit (NCU) for the PSTN1-9.

Reference numeral 1-11 denotes an LAN or Internet which can exchange theE-mail data. In case of the LAN, it is connected to the Internet througha firewall, a service provider, or the like.

Reference numeral 1-10 denotes an I/F unit for connecting to the LAN(Internet) 1-11.

Reference numeral 1-12 denotes a mail server connected through the LANor Internet.

With respect to the E-mail transmission using the Internet facsimileapparatus according to Claims of the present invention, a destination(receiver) is designated by the FAX operation unit 1-2, an image of anoriginal to be sent is read by the image reader 1-3, and the E-mailaccompanied by the read image is sent by an E-mail transmission controlprogram. It is assumed that the details of a format of the E-mail, acompressing method of the annexed image, and the like are based on theITU-T.37 (recommendation of the facsimile transmission through theInternet).

As a first embodiment, the operation on a transmitter side for sendingInternet facsimile data with a message deposition notification will bedescribed hereinbelow. As a second embodiment, the operation on areceiver side for receiving the Internet facsimile data with a messagedeposition notification will be described hereinbelow.

<First Embodiment>

As a first embodiment, the operation on the transmitter (hereinbelow,referred to as an Internet facsimile apparatus in the first embodiment)side for sending the Internet facsimile data with a message depositionnotification will be described hereinbelow.

First, a managing method of communication result information in theInternet facsimile apparatus in the first embodiment will be described.

In the Internet facsimile apparatus in the embodiment, a result of thefacsimile transmission and reception and a result of the transmissionand reception of the E-mail are stored and managed as communicationmanagement information.

FIG. 2 shows a data construction of the communication managementinformation of the facsimile in the first embodiment.

Reference numeral 2-1 denotes a communication management informationtable for storing the communication management information which isformed each time the transmission and reception of the facsimile or thetransmission and reception by the E-mail are executed. Information shownat 2-2 to 2-12 is stored in each communication management information inthe communication management information table 2-1.

Communication management numbers are stored in the information 2-2, thatis, serial numbers 1 to 4999 are assigned upon transmission and serialnumbers 5001 to 9999 are assigned upon reception.

A user ID, that is, a user name and a sender name upon facsimiletransmission and information described in a From: field column upontransmission of the E-mail are stored in the information 2-3.

Communication mode such as transmission or reception, FAXsending/receiving mode such as G3, ECM, or the like, I-FAX (facsimiletransmission by the E-mail), and the like are stored in the information2-4.

A communication time is stored in the information 2-5. In case of thetransmission and reception via the LAN, it becomes a time of connectionto the server.

A time when the communication is started is stored in the information2-6.

The number of originals (pages) which are sent or received is stored inthe information 2-7. If the E-mail without an image is received,information indicative of the absence of the page number information isstored.

A telephone number of the receiver on the partner side or an E-mailaddress of the receiver is stored in the information 2-8.

A message ID written in “Message-ID:” of a mail header upon transmissionof the E-mail and a message ID written in “Message-ID:” of a mail headerupon reception are stored in the information 2-9.

In order to unconditionally identify the E-mail on the Internet, the IDwritten in the “Message-ID:” is formed by combining an IP address and adomain name on the sender side, a sending time, a communicationmanagement number, and the like.

Information indicative of a communication result is stored in theinformation 2-10. In case of the G3 communication via the PSTN, itscommunication result is stored. In case of the Internet FAXtransmission, a communication result until the default mail server isstored.

A message disposition notification (hereinafter, abbreviated to “MDN”)status of the transmitted E-mail is stored in the information 2-11. Forexample, there are the following MDN statuses.

“MDN Request OFF” denotes that the message disposition notification(MDN) is not requested. “MDN Request ON” denotes that the MDN has beenrequested and it is being notified. “MDN Confirmed” denotes that theE-mail according to the requested MDN has been received.

MDN communication result information, that is, a reply result on thereception side corresponding to the MDN in the case where the MDN hasbeen requested is shown in the information 2-12.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the communications in the differentcommunication modes such as transmission/reception or G3 FAXcommunication/Internet FAX communication are managed by one table.However, they can be also managed by a different table everycommunication mode.

An E-mail sending process in the Internet facsimile apparatus in theembodiment will now be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the E-mail sending process in the Internetfacsimile apparatus in the first embodiment.

First, in step S3-1, one area for storing the communication managementinformation is obtained from the communication management table at thestart of the transmission. If there is no empty area, the oldestcommunication management information is overwritten and held. Thecommunication management number 2-2 is assigned to the communicationmanagement information in the obtained area.

In step S3-2, the communication management information for the mail tobe sent is generated. Specifically speaking, a message ID is formed as aunique ID for identifying the mail to be sent, the communication mode isset to the I-FAX transmission indicative of the Internet FAXtransmission, and the communication start time, the number of pages, theE-mail address of the receiver, and an error code (communication result:Unsent) are set.

In step S3-3, whether the message disposition notification (MDN) isperformed or not, that is, whether the MDN request header is attached ornot is discriminated. If it is attached, step S3-4 follows. If NO, stepS3-6 follows.

It is now assumed that the setting about whether the MDN is performed ornot has been made by the user through the FAX operation unit 1-2 priorto the discrimination in step S3-3.

In step S3-4, a mail header accompanied by an MDN request header(“Disposition-Notification-To: <sender address>”) is generated.

In step S3-5, the “MDN-Request ON” status is written into the MDN status2-11 of the communication management information.

In step S3-6, a header of the sent mail without the MDN request headeris generated.

In step S3-7, information of “MDN Request OFF” is written into the MDNstatus 2-11 of the communication management information.

In step S3-8, the sending process of the E-mail accompanied by the imagefile to be sent to the mail server is executed.

In step S3-9, when the transmission of the mail to the mail server iscompleted, the value of the MDN status of the communication managementinformation is read out. If it indicates “MDN Request ON”, step S3-10follows. If it does not indicate “MDN Request ON”, step S3-11 follows.

In step S3-10, “MDN Receiving” is written into the transmission resultand the communication management information is updated.

In step S3-11, “Succeeded” is written into the transmission result andthe communication management information is updated.

By the above processes, the communication management information of thetransmission of the E-mail is set into the communication managementinformation table 2-1.

An E-mail receiving process in the Internet facsimile apparatus of theembodiment will now be described.

The receiving process of the E-mail in the embodiment is executed bymaking a confirmation of the received mail to the mail server at apredetermined period by the setting on the apparatus side.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processes of the received E-mail in theInternet facsimile apparatus in the first embodiment. The processesbased on the flowchart of FIG. 4 are executed with respect to eachE-mail received from the mail server.

In step S4-1, an area for storing the communication managementinformation for the received mail is obtained and the communicationmanagement number is obtained.

In step S4-2, the message ID is obtained from the header portion of thereceived mail and the communication management information is generatedin a manner similar to step S3-2.

In step S4-3, the communication management information table 2-1 issearched and whether there is the communication management informationof “MDN Receiving” or not is discriminated. If it exists, step S4-4follows. If NO, step S4-8 follows.

In step S4-4, whether the received E-mail is the MDN responsive to theMDN request or not is discriminated. If YES, step S4-5 follows. If NO,step S4-6 follows.

In step S4-5, an analyzing process of the received MDN is executed andthe communication management information of the sent E-mailcorresponding to the received MDN is updated. The details of the processin step S4-5 will be described hereinlater with reference to FIG. 5.

Step S4-6 relates to a case where although there is the mail of “MDNReceiving”, the received mail is not the MDN. In this step, whether awaiting time of the communication management information of “MDNReceiving” is over or not is discriminated. If YES, step S4-7 follows.If NO, step S4-8 follows.

In step S4-7, “MDN Unreceived” is written as a communication result ofthe communication management information regarding the sent mail whichmade the MDN request. Further, a corresponding error code is set.

In step S4-8, since it is not the MDN mail, a predetermined process isexecuted. As such a predetermined process, for example, there is aprocess such that the image data attached to the received E-mail isoutputted or printed, or received into a memory, or transferred toanother apparatus, or the like.

In step S4-9, the communication management information of the receivedmail is updated on the basis of the result processed in step S4-8 or acorresponding error code is set.

The updating process of the communication management information of thereceived E-mail is executed by the above processes.

The details of the analyzing process of the received MDN in step S4-5will now be described with reference to FIG. 5.

In step S5-1, the data of one line is obtained from the received E-mail.

In step S5-2, whether a head character string is “Original-Message-ID:”as a header indicative of the message ID of the sending E-mailcorresponding to the MDN or not is discriminated. If NO, the processingroutine is returned to step S5-1 and the data of the next line isobtained. If YES, step S5-3 follows.

In step S5-3, the message ID shown in (S5-2) is found from the messageIDs of the communication management information regarding the sent mail.

In step S5-4, if the relevant message ID is found, an area of thecommunication management information is specified by a pointer or thelike and step S5-5 follows. If it is not found, step S5-10 follows.

In step S5-5, the data of another one line is further obtained from thereceived E-mail. In step S5-6, whether a head character string of theobtained line data is “Disposition:” or not is discriminated. If YES,step S5-7 follows. If NO, the processing routine is returned to stepS5-5 and the data of the next one line is obtained.

In step S5-7, the contents of the communication result information 2-12of the communication management information specified in step S5-4 areupdated on the basis of the contents of the header of “Disposition:”.

Parameters which are set into the header of “Disposition:” have beendefined in RFC2298.

An action-mode indicates whether the processes regarding the MDN haveautomatically been executed or manually been executed(“manual-action”/“automatic-action”).

A sending-mode indicates whether the transmission of the MDN hasmanually been executed or automatically been executed(“MDN-sent-manually”/“MDN-sent-automatically”).

A disposition-type indicates how the sent E-mail was processed on thereception side UA. Specifically speaking, there are the followingprocessing methods: “displayed”; “some process such as printing,transfer, or the like has been made (“dispatched”); “the predeterminedprocess has been executed (“processed”); “deleted”; “denied”; and“failed”.

As mentioned above, in the RFC2298, since the parameters according tothe processes of the E-mail on the reception side are set into theDisposition header, whether the MDN of the sent-E-mail has been made onthe basis of a predetermined rule or not is discriminated. Adiscrimination result is reflected to the MDN communication resultinformation 2-12.

In step S5-8, whether the reading line is the last line or not isdiscriminated. If YES, step S5-9 follows. If NO, the processing routineis returned to step S5-5 and whether the next line is the last line ornot is discriminated.

In step S5-9, if there is not a “Disposition:” field in the MDN, thismeans that the received MDN mail is not normal. Information indicativeof the reception error is set into the MDN communication resultinformation 2-12 of the received MDN mail. If the E-mail for notifyingthe error is returned from the mail server because the address of thesent E-mail is wrong, or the like, the process in this step is executed.

In step S5-10, since there is not the relevant message ID, informationindicative of the reception error is set into the MDN communicationresult information 2-12 of the received MDN mail.

Each of the process in step S4-9 in FIG. 4, the process in step S5-9 inFIG. 5, and the process in step S5-10 is the process for setting theerror into the communication management information because the MDNreply mail cannot be received due to a different factor. However, anerror code for identifying each error factor is set and visuallyoutputted by a report or the like. Thus, the sender of the E-mail canverify the errors in detail.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an output example of a communicationmanagement report in the Internet facsimile apparatus of the firstembodiment. The communication management report is outputted on thebasis of the contents stored in the communication management informationtable 2-1. In the example of the diagram, in the case where data is FAXtransmitted by E-mail (that is, when data is Internet FAX transmitted),“send I-FAX” is written in the column of the communication mode. In thisexample, “send I-FAX” of three cases is written.

In the first case of No. 0002, by displaying “MDN Unsent” into thecommunication mode, it is shown that the MDN is not received yet. Bydisplaying “--” into the column of the communication result, it is shownthat the result is not sent.

In the next case of No. 0003, by displaying “MDN Confirmed” into thecommunication mode, it is shown that the MDN has already been made. OKis written in the column of the communication result.

In the last case of No. 0004, by displaying nothing regarding the MDNinto the column of the communication mode, it is shown that the MDN isnot requested. Only OK is written in the column of the communicationresult.

As mentioned above, when the communication management report isoutputted, since the presence or absence (ON/OFF) of the MDN request andthe MDN situation at an output time point are displayed everycommunication, the user can grasp the MDN situation of eachcommunication.

In the example of FIG. 6, OK/NG which is set into the column of thecommunication result of the Internet FAX transmission is printed as onecommunication result by combining the transmission result until the mailserver and the MDN communication result. That is, OK is printed only inthe case where both the transmission result until the mail server andthe MDN communication result indicate the normal end.

As a modification, the transmission result until the mail server and theMDN communication result can be also printed into the different columns.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show examples of outputs of the transmission resultreports in the case where the Internet FAX transmission with “MDNRequest ON” is performed. FIG. 7 shows the example in the case where thecommunication result indicates OK and the MDN has already been made.FIG. 8 shows the example in the case where the communication resultindicates NG and the MDN has already been made.

In the example of FIG. 7, the transmission result is set to OK from thecontents of the “Disposition:” header in the MDN analyzing process inFIG. 5, the communication management information is updated (step S5-7),and it is outputted as a transmission result report.

With respect to an output timing of the transmission result, it isassumed that the transmission result report is not outputted until theMDN mail is received. After the elapse of the time which has beendetermined due to the waiting for reception of the MDN mail (step S4-6),the status is set to “MDN Unreceived”, and the transmission resultreport is outputted as a transmission error.

In the example of FIG. 8, the transmission result is set to NG from thecontents of the “Disposition:” header in the MDN analyzing process inFIG. 5, the communication management information is updated (step S5-7),and it is outputted as a transmission result report.

As mentioned above, according to the first embodiment, when the InternetFAX transmission of “MDN Request ON” is performed, a reply situation forthe MDN can be reflected in detail to the communication managementinformation and printed or displayed.

Thus, the sender of the Internet facsimile can correctly grasp thecontents of the communication situation and communication result of theInternet FAX transmission and a kind Internet FAX apparatus which can beeasily understood by the user can be provided.

Although the above first embodiment has been shown with respect to theexample of notifying the sender of the communication managementinformation to which the MDN reply situation from the receiver has beenreflected in a form of the report output, the communication managementinformation can be also displayed on the FAX operation unit 1-2.

Further, it is also possible to allow the construction of the InternetFAX apparatus shown in FIG. 1 to have a Web server function for openingvarious data to Web clients on the LAN 1-11, convert the communicationmanagement information into an XML or HTML format, and it is opened tothe user on the LAN 1-11 by the Web server function.

<Second Embodiment>

As a second embodiment, the operation on the receiver side for receivingthe Internet facsimile data of “MDN Request ON” will now be described.

It is now assumed that the Internet FAX apparatus on the receiver side(hereinafter, referred to as an Internet facsimile apparatus in thesecond embodiment) manages each reception by the communicationmanagement information table 2-1 in a manner similar to the Internet FAXapparatus in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation in the case where the E-mailof “MDN Request Header ON” is received in the Internet FAX apparatus inthe second embodiment.

First, an area of the communication management information table 2-1 isobtained and the information regarding the received E-mail (informationof 2-2 to 2-12 in FIG. 2) is set into the obtained area. At this time,information indicative of the absence of the MDN request is set into theMDN status 2-11.

In step S9-1, whether the MDN request is ON or not is discriminated.This discrimination is made by checking whether the mail headeraccompanied by the MDN request header (“Disposition-Notification-To:<sender address>”) based on RFC2298 is ON or not. If the MDN requestheader is ON, step S9-2 follows. If it is OFF, step S9-11 follows.

In step S9-2, information indicative of the MDN request ON is set intothe MDN status 2-11 by the communication management information table2-1 of the received E-mail.

In step S9-3, whether an alarm is generated or not is discriminated onthe basis of the user registration information showing “process in thecase where the E-mail of “MDN Request ON” is received” which haspreviously been registered in the RAM 1-6. In case of generating thealarm, step S9-4 follows. If NO, step S9-5 follows.

In step S9-4, the alarm indicative of “MDN Request ON” is generated by aspeaker provided for the FAX operation unit 1-2.

In step S9-5, whether the reception result report is outputted or not isdiscriminated on the basis of the user registration information showing“process in the case where the E-mail of “MDN Request ON” is received”which has previously been registered in the RAM 1-6. In case ofoutputting the reception result report, step S9-6 follows. If NO, stepS9-7 follows.

In step S9-6, the reception result report accompanied by the informationof “MDN Request ON” is outputted. An example of the output of thereception result report will be explained hereinlater.

In step S9-7, whether the MDN is automatically returned or not isdiscriminated on the basis of the user registration information showing“process in the case where the E-mail of “MDN Request ON” is received”.In case of automatically returning the MDN, step S9-8 follows. If NO,step S9-13 follows.

In step S9-8, a reply E-mail of the MDN is generated and sent to an MDNnotification destination address set in“Disposition-Notification-Header”.

In step S9-9, after the transmission, information showing that the MDNreply E-mail has been sent to the MDN status 2-11, that is, the E-mailof the MDN has already been sent is set.

In step S9-13, “MDN Request ON” is displayed by the LED or LCD of theFAX operation unit 1-2, the LED is lit on to indicate the presence ofthe memory received image, the received E-mail is stored into thememory, and the process of the received E-mail is finished.

In step S9-10, a mark (MDN mark) indicative of “MDN Request ON” is addedto the header of the image attached to the received E-mail and theresultant image is outputted. Generally, a technique for synthesizing apredetermined mark to the received FAX image and outputting theresultant image is well known. In the embodiment as well, the aboveprocess is realized by a technique similar to such a known technique.The output example of the image will be described hereinbelow.

In step S9-11, a header without the MDN mark is added to the imageattached to the received E-mail and the resultant image is outputted.

The operation in the case where the E-mail of “MDN Request Header ON” isreceived has been described in the above flowchart.

It should be noted here that before the contents of the received E-mailand the image attached to the received E-mail are visually outputted,that is, in step S9-4, S9-6, S9-10, or S9-13, the user is notified ofthe fact that the MDN request is ON.

Thus, the user can discriminate that the MDN request is ON withoutconfirming the contents of the received E-mail and can promptly returnthe MDN to the sender.

Various modifications of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 are possible. Forexample, first and second modifications will now be describedhereinbelow with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 12 (obtained bymodifying the flowchart of FIG. 9).

(First Modification)

In the example of FIG. 9, if NO in the discrimination in step S9-7, “MDNRequest ON” is displayed in step S9-9 and the received image isoutputted in step S9-10.

According to the first modification, if NO in the discrimination in stepS12-7 in FIG. 12, “MDN Request ON” is displayed in step S12-9 and,thereafter, the processing routine is once finished without outputtingthe received image. After that, the received image is outputted inaccordance with a predetermined operation by the user and the MDN replyE-mail is sent.

(Second Modification)

In the example of FIG. 9, if YES in the discrimination in step S9-7,first, in step S9-8, the MDN reply E-mail is sent. In step S9-10, thereceived image is outputted.

In the second modification, if YES in the discrimination in step S12-7in FIG. 12, in step S12-8, the received image is first outputted. Afterthat, whether it has successfully been outputted or not is discriminatedin step S12-10. If YES, the MDN reply E-mail is sent in step S12-13 (amessage indicative of the transmission of the MDN reply E-mail is set inthe MDN status 2-11). If NO, step S12-12 follows and the sending mode tosend the MDN reply E-mail corresponding to the received image which theuser tried to output in step S12-10 is switched from the automatic modeto the manual mode. After that, in accordance with a predeterminedoperation by the user, the received image is outputted and the MDNreplay E-mail corresponding to the received image is sent.

According to the first modification, since the outputting operation ofthe received image and the transmission of the MDN replay E-mailcorresponding to the output image are automatically executed in aninterlocking relation with a predetermined manual operation of the user,the reliability of the MDN reply E-mail is improved.

According to the second modification, even in case of automaticallysending the MDN reply E-mail, a situation such that in spite of the factthat the received image is not successfully outputted, the MDN replyE-mail is automatically sent can be prevented.

Output examples of the reception result report and received image in thesecond embodiment will now be described.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an output example of the reception resultreport which is outputted every received E-mail in the Internetfacsimile apparatus of the second embodiment. In the example of thediagram, an output example of the reception result report responsive tothe received E-mail of “MDN Request ON” is shown. Together with “No.(reception number)” (1001) corresponding to the communication managementNo. 2-2 and “sender address” (1002) showing the E-mail address of thesender, “MDN Request ON” (1003) showing “MDN Request ON” is written inthe column of the communication result is printed.

By seeing the display of 1003, the receiver can recognize the fact thatthe E-mail accompanied by the received image has “MDN Request ON”.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an output example of an image attached tothe received E-mail in the Internet FAX apparatus of the secondembodiment. In the example shown in this diagram, an output example ofthe image attached to the received E-mail of “MDN Request ON” is shown.In a header portion of it, together with an E-mail address 1101 of thesender, an MDN mark 1102 indicative of “MDN Request ON” is printed.

By seeing the display of 1102, the receiver can recognize the fact thatthe E-mail accompanied by the received image has “MDN Request ON”.

The area 1102 becomes a blank area in case of outputting the imageattached to the received E-mail without “MDN Request ON”.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, the information indicative of “MDNRequest ON” is printed in the header portion. However, it can be printedin a footer portion or, if it is possible to discriminate whether theMDN request is ON or OFF, such information can be also displayed byanother method.

The operation for recognizing the MDN request by the reception resultreport outputted from the user or the received image and making aresponse to the MDN will now be described.

The user who passed near the Internet FAX apparatus of the secondembodiment recognizes the reception of the E-mail of “MDN Request ON”from a state of the LCD or LED displayed in step S9-9.

The user who obtained the reception result report outputted in step S9-6or the received image outputted in step S9-10 recognizes the presence ofthe MDN request from the information indicative of “MDN Request ON”attached thereto.

The user who recognized “MDN Request ON” executes a predeterminedoperation by pressing a button of the FAX operation unit 1-2, an MDNreply E-mail is sent by the process shown in step S9-8.

In this instance, it is also possible to display “The sender requestedthe MDN. Do you send a reply E-mail?YES/NO.” and send the reply E-mailfor MDN if the user selects YES indicative of the execution of the MDN.

According to the second embodiment as mentioned above, when the userreceives the E-mail which requested the Message Disposition Notification(MDN), this fact is shown by the LED/LCD display, alarm, report,further, outputted received image, or the like, thereby making itpossible to promote the user to execute the MDN operation.

It is also possible to use a form such that the construction of theInternet FAX apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is allowed to have a Web serverfunction for opening various data to Web clients on the LAN 1-11 and thecommunication management information or the received image is convertedinto the XML or HTML format and opened to the user on the LAN 1-11 bythe Web server function.

<Third Embodiment>

As a third embodiment, explanation will be made with respect to anembodiment in which means for notifying the user of informationregarding whether the MDN E-mail for the received E-mail has alreadybeen sent or not is further provided for the Internet FAX apparatus ofthe second embodiment.

As described in the second embodiment, the information showing whetherthe MDN request is ON or OFF and the information showing that the replyE-mail responsive to the MDN request has already been sent are set inthe MDN status of the received E-mail in the communication managementinformation table 2-1 every received E-mail.

Therefore, by reading out the MDN status 2-11 corresponding to thereceived E-mail, whether the MDN request for the received E-mail is ONor OFF and whether the reply E-mail responsive to the MDN request hasbeen sent or not can be discriminated.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a system of managing an imagefile attached to the received E-mail. Storage destination information,information of the sender (E-mail address or the like), reception timeinformation, message ID of the attached E-mail, further, informationregarding a format of the image file, and the like of an image file 1603have been stored in image management information 1601. When the imagefile is outputted, the necessary information is read out from the imagemanagement information and an output of the image is controlled.

Communication management information 1602 of the received E-mailaccompanied by the image file can be also specified from the message IDor the like of the E-mail stored in the image management information1601. Therefore, by reading out the MDN status 2-11 of the specifiedcommunication management information from the image file, whether theMDN request for the E-mail accompanied by this image file is ON or OFFand whether the reply E-mail responsive to the MDN request has been sentor not can be discriminated.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the outputting operation of the attachedimage file in an Internet facsimile apparatus of the third embodiment.

First, in step S1501, the communication management informationcorresponding to the received E-mail accompanied by the image file as anoutput target is specified and the MDN status 2-11 of the specifiedcommunication management information is read out.

In steps S1502 and S1504, the value of the MDN status 2-11 read out instep S1501 is evaluated.

If the MDN request responsive to the received E-mail is OFF in stepS1502, step S1503 follows and the image file is outputted without addingthe mark regarding the MDN.

If the MDN request responsive to the received E-mail is ON and the MDNreply E-mail has already been sent in accordance with the MDN request instep S1504, step S1505 follows. In step S1502, as shown in FIG. 13, anMDN mark 1301 showing that the MDN reply E-mail has already been sent isadded and the image file is outputted.

If NO in step S1504, that is, if the MDN request responsive to thereceived E-mail is ON and the MDN reply E-mail is not sent in accordancewith the request, a mark indicative of such a fact is added and theimage file is outputted.

The outputting operation of the attached image file in the Internet FAXapparatus of the third embodiment has been described above.

As mentioned above, since ON/OFF of the MDN request and ON/OFF of thereply to the MDN request are added to the output image of the imagefile, the user who saw the output image can easily grasp whether heshould take an MDN action or not.

As described in the above embodiment, the information showing whetherthe MDN request is ON or OFF and the information showing that the replyE-mail responsive to the MDN request has already been sent are set inthe MDN status of the received E-mail in the communication managementinformation table 2-1 every received E-mail.

Therefore, when the communication management report is outputted,information regarding the MDN request can be also added with respect tothe received E-mail.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an output example of the communicationmanagement-:report in the third embodiment. According to the exampleshown in the diagram, with respect to the received E-mail of No. 5002,by displaying “MDN Unsent” into the column of the communication mode, itis shown that although the MDN request is ON, nothing is responded yet.With respect to the received E-mail of No. 5003, by displaying “MDNSent” into the column of the communication mode, it is shown that theMDN request is ON and a response has already been made. With respect tothe received E-mail of No. 5005, by displaying “MDN Request OFF” intothe column of the communication mode, it is shown that the MDN requestis OFF.

As mentioned above, with respect to a plurality of received E-mails, byoutputting the information about ON/OFF of the MDN request and theinformation about ON/OFF of reply of the MDN request as a list, amissing of the MDN can be checked.

<Fourth Embodiment>

The fourth embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 17to 21.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a sending procedure of the E-mail in anInternet facsimile apparatus of the fourth embodiment.

When the E-mail is sent, as shown in FIG. 17, in step S1701, one areafor storing the communication management information is first obtainedon the RAM 1-6. An empty area on the communication managementinformation table in the RAM 1-6 is obtained, or if there is no emptyarea, an area corresponding to the oldest communication managementinformation in the communication management information table isobtained. A communication management number of the E-mail to be sent, amessage ID, Internet FAX transmission (I-FAX transmission) as acommunication mode, a communication start time, the number of pages, areceiver mail address, and an error code (communication result; unsent)are set into the obtained area.

Subsequently, step S1702 follows and the transmission of the E-mail(I-FAX) accompanied by the read image to the mail server 1-12 isexecuted. In step S1703, whether the transmission to the mail server1-12 has succeeded or not is discriminated. If the transmission to themail server 1-12 failed, step S1704 follows. Whether a cause of thefailed transmission to the mail server 1-12 relates to the generation ofa transmission error or not is discriminated. If the cause does notrelate to the generation of a transmission error here, it is determinedthat it is impossible to connect to the mail server 1-12 due to a busystatus of the server or the like. The processing routine is returned tostep S1702 and the E-mail is sent again. On the other hand, if the causeof the failed transmission to the mail server 1-12 relates to thegeneration of the transmission error, step S1705 follows. An error codecorresponding to the communication management information is set bysetting the transmission to NG, and the transmission result reportindicative of the transmission result is outputted. The processingroutine is finished.

If it is decided that the transmission to the mail server 1-12 succeededin step S1703, step S1706 follows. The apparatus waits for apredetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) in order to start thereceiving operation to the mail server 1-12 after the elapse of thepredetermined time. During the waiting period of time, a communicationtime is set into the communication management information. If thecommunication management report is outputted during the waiting periodof time, by writing “--” into the column of the communication result, itis shown that the transmission result is not specified yet.

Subsequently, step S1707 follows and the receiving process to the mailserver 1-12 is executed. In step S1708, whether the reception of theE-mail from the mail server 1-12 has succeeded or not is discriminated.If the reception of the E-mail from the mail server 1-12 failed, it isdetermined that the sent E-mail was successfully sent to the designateddestination, and step S1709 follows. The communication managementinformation is updated by setting the transmission to OK. Thetransmission result report showing this transmission result isoutputted, and the processing routine is finished.

On the other hand, if the reception of the E-mail from the mail server1-12 succeeded, step S1710 follows and whether an E-mail of a deliverystatus notification (hereinafter, abbreviated to “DSN”) is included inthe received E-mail or not is discriminated. This discrimination is madeby checking whether the following description exists in the field in thereceived E-mail or not.

-   -   Content-Type: multipart/report;        -   report-type=delivery-status;            The details of the DSN have been specified in FC1894.

When the E-mail of the DSN is not included in the E-mail, it isdetermined that the sent E-mail was successfully sent to the designateddestination, and step S1709 follows. The communication managementinformation is updated by setting the transmission to OK, and theprocessing routine is finished. If the E-mail of the DSN is included inthe received E-mail, step S1711 follows and a DSN analyzing process isexecuted. The processing routine is finished.

The DSN analyzing process in step S1711 will now be described withreference to FIG. 18. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a procedure for theDSN analyzing process in step S1711 in FIG. 17.

In the DSN analyzing process, as shown in FIG. 18, first, in step S1801,a message ID (DSN) written in the “Message-ID:” field of the receivedoriginal E-mail of the DSN is obtained. In step S1802, an index i forsearching the communication management information table is set to “1”.Step S1803 follows and a message ID (i) of the communication managementinformation i is obtained with reference to the communication managementinformation table.

Subsequently, in step S1804, the obtained message ID (i) is comparedwith the message ID (DSN), thereby discriminating whether both of themcoincide or not. If the message ID (i) and the message ID (DSN) do notcoincide, step S1805 follows and the index i is increased by “1”. Instep S1806, whether the index i is equal to or less than the maximumvalue (communication management number of the communication managementinformation) in the communication management information table or not isdiscriminated. If the index i is equal to or less than the maximum valuein the communication management information table, the processingroutine is returned to step S1804. If the index i exceeds the maximumvalue in the communication management information table, step S1807follows. Since the communication management information which coincideswith the DSN message does not exist, a DSN error report in which thecontents of the received DSN have been written is outputted. Thisprocessing routine is finished.

If it is determined in step S1804 that the message ID (i) coincides withthe message ID (DSN), step S1808 follows and the information written inan “Action:” field in the DSN is obtained therefrom. In step S1809, thecommunication result of the corresponding communication managementinformation is updated on the basis of the obtained information. In caseof the error, a corresponding error code is set. As mentioned above, oneof “failed” (notification of unsent)/“delayed” (delay)/“delivered(transmission OK)”/“relayed” (relay)/“expanded” (expansion) has beenwritten in the “Action:” field. If “failed” (notification of unsent) hasbeen written, the communication result of the correspondingcommunication management information is updated by setting thetransmission result to NG, and the transmission result report showingthe transmission result is outputted. If “delayed” (delay) has beenwritten, the communication result of the corresponding communicationmanagement information is set to “transmission result unsent”. If“delivered” (transmission OK) has been written, the transmission resultis set to OK. If “relayed” (relay) has been written, the transmissionresult is set to OK (relay). If “expanded” (expansion) has been written,the transmission result is set to OK (broadcasting). In this manner, thecommunication result is updated, respectively. The transmission resultreport showing the transmission result is outputted, respectively. Thepresent processing routine is finished.

An output example of the communication management report will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 19.

The communication management report is a report describing one list ofthe communication management information stored in the communicationmanagement information table in the RAM 1-6 and can be outputted fromthe record unit 1-4 by the inputting operation of the FAX operation unit1-2. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the communication managementreport includes: start (start time); receiver (partner destination);sender (name of sender); No. (communication management number); mode(communication mode); pages (the number of pages which are sent orreceived); and result (communication result). In the case where theE-mail has been sent, “send I-FAX” is written into the column of thecommunication mode.

In the communication management report, there are “send I-FAX” of threecases. With respect to the E-mail (communication management number 0002)of the first case, the E-mail is received from the mail server 1-12after the elapse of a predetermined time. However, since the DSN is notreceived (communication management number 5002), OK is written into thecolumn of the communication result. With respect to the E-mail(communication management number 0003) of the second case, since theE-mail is received from the mail server 1-12 after the elapse of apredetermined time, and the DSN (unsent) is received (communicationmanagement numbers 5003 and 5004), NG is written into the column of thecommunication result. With respect to the E-mail (communicationmanagement number 0004) of the third case, since a predetermined timedoes not elapse from the transmission and whether the E-mail is receivedfrom the mail server 1-12 or not is obscure, “--” is written into thecolumn of the communication result.

Examples of the transmission result report which is outputted in stepS1705 or S1709 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21.FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the example of the transmission resultreport which is outputted in step S1705 in FIG. 17. FIG. 21 is a diagramshowing the example of the transmission result report which is outputtedin step S1709 in FIG. 17.

If a transmission error is generated upon sending of the E-mail to themail server 1-12 and the transmission is finished as an error (stepS1704 in FIG. 17), a corresponding error code is set into thecommunication management information by setting the transmission to NG,and at the same time, the transmission result report showing thetransmission result is outputted (step S1705). For example, as shown inFIG. 21, this transmission result report includes the communicationresult together with a message indicative of the error end of thetransmission, and NG showing the transmission result and the error codehave been written in the column of the communication result.

When the mail is not received from the mail server 1-12 or when theE-mail of the corresponding DSN is not included in the E-mail (stepsS1708 and S1710 in FIG. 17), it is determined that the sent E-mail hassuccessfully been sent to the designated destination, and thetransmission result report showing the transmission result oftransmission OK is outputted (step S1709). For example, as shown in FIG.20, together with the message indicative of the successful end of thetransmission, the transmission result is included in the transmissionresult report. OK indicative of the transmission result has been writtenin the column of the communication result.

As mentioned above, according to the embodiment, whether the DSN(Delivery Status Notification) for the sent E-mail has been receivedfrom the mail server 12 after the elapse of a predetermined period oftime from the transmission of the E-mail or not is discriminated. Ifthis DSN is received, the contents in the communication managementinformation of the E-mail which received the DSN are updated inaccordance with the DSN. Therefore, the user can certainly know whetherthe E-mail sent via the E-mail server has successfully been sent to thereceiver or not and, moreover, the reliability for the facsimiletransmission via the Internet can be improved.

Since the transmission result according to the DSN is described in thecommunication management report, the transmission result informationsuch as “failed”, “delayed”, “delivered”, “relayed”, “broadcasted”, etc.can be derived from the description.

<Fifth Embodiment>

The fifth embodiment of the invention will now be described withreference to FIGS. 22 to 24. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a procedurefor a mail receiving process of the DSN in a facsimile apparatusaccording to the fifth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 23 is a diagramshowing an example of the transmission result report which is outputtedin step S2207 in FIG. 22. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of thereception result report which is outputted in step S2209 in FIG. 22.Since the fifth embodiment has substantially the same construction asthat of the fourth embodiment, a description of its construction isomitted here.

According to the embodiment, when the DSN (Delivery Status Notification)returned from the mail server 1-12 in response to the sent E-mail isreceived, the contents of the received DSN is analyzed. When it isdetected by this analysis that the received DSN indicates “notdelivered” of the sent E-mail, error notification information indicativeof “not delivered” of the sent E-mail is outputted. The user is notifiedof this error notification information by generating a warning soundfrom the speaker of the FAX operation unit 1-2. The user is alsonotified of this error notification information by a method whereby itis printed and outputted by the record unit 1-4 or a method whereby itis displayed by using the LCD or LED of the FAX operation unit 1-2.

In the embodiment, after the E-mail accompanied by the read image issent, the mail receiving process from the mail server 1-12 is started.When the E-mail from the mail server 1-12 is received, as shown in FIG.22, whether the E-mail received from the mail server 1-12 is the E-mailincluding the DSN or not is first discriminated in step S2201. Thisdiscrimination is made by checking whether the following descriptionexists in the field in the received E-mail or not in a manner similar tothe fourth embodiment.

-   -   Content-Type: multipart/report;        -   report-type=delivery-status;

If the E-mail received from the mail server 1-12 is not the E-mailincluding the DSN, step S2208 follows and the standard mail receivingprocess is executed. In the standard mail receiving process, the printoutput, transfer, or the like of the received E-mail is executed. Thepresent processing routine is finished.

If the E-mail received from the mail server 1-12 is the E-mail includingthe DSN, step S2202 follows and the presence or absence of thedescription “Action:<action>” is discriminated. If such a description isabsent, it is determined that the illegal DSN has been received, andstep S2209 follows. The communication result report is outputted fromthe record unit 1-4. The reception result report indicative of theabnormal DSN reception is outputted. The details of the reception resultreport will be explained hereinlater. The present processing routine isfinished.

If the description “Action:<action>” is present in the DSN, step S2203follows. A character string described in “Action:<action>” is obtainedand stored into an action character string buffer in the RAM 1-6. StepS2204 follows and whether the obtained action character string is“failed” or not is discriminated. If the obtained action characterstring is “failed”, since this “failed” indicates “not delivered”, theprocessing routine advances to step S2205.

In step S2205, a warning sound is generated from the speaker of the FAXoperation unit 1-2 in order to notify the user of the face that the sentE-mail does not reach the designated destination. In step S2206,information to specify the E-mail which received the “failed”notification by the DSN, for example, the receiver mail address or thelike is displayed by the LCD of the FAX operation unit 1-2. At the sametime, the LED of the FAX operation unit 1-2 is lit on in order toindicates the error state. Step S2207 follows and the communicationresult report for the E-mail which received the “failed” notification bythe DSN is outputted from the record unit 1-4. The fact that the“failed” notification was received by the DSN and the transmissionresult report describing the information regarding the E-mail areoutputted. The details of the transmission result report will bedescribed hereinlater. The present processing routine is finished.

If it is decided in step S2204 that the obtained action character stringis not “failed”, this means that the obtained action character string isone of “delayed” (delay)/“delivered” (transmission OK)/“relayed”(relay)/“expanded” (expansion), steps S2205 and S2206 are skipped andstep S2207 follows. The communication result report for the E-mail whichreceived this DSN is outputted. In this instance, the transmissionresult report describing one of “delayed” (delay)/“delivered”(transmission OK)/“relayed” (relay)/“expanded” (expansion) shown by theDSN is outputted. The present processing routine is finished.

If the “failed” notification is received by the DSN (step S2204), forexample, the transmission result report shown in FIG. 23 is outputted(step S2207) in response to the above E-mail. The fact that the errorwas notified by the mail server and the information (reception No.,receiver address, receiver name, start time, duration (communicationtime), and the number of pages) regarding the E-mail whose error wasnotified, and the communication result of NG have been described in thetransmission result report.

If the illegal DSN is received from the mail server 1-12 (step S2202), areception result report indicative of the abnormal DSN reception shownin, for example, FIG. 24 is outputted (step S2209). The fact that thereceived mail is the illegal DSN mail, information (here, reception No.,sender address, sender name, start time, duration (communication time),the number of pages) regarding the E-mail corresponding to this mail,and the communication result indicative of the reception of the DSNwithout the “Action:” header have been described in the reception resultreport.

As mentioned above, in the embodiment, when the DSN (Delivery StatusNotification) returned from the mail server 1-12 in response to the sentE-mail is received, the contents of the received DSN are analyzed. If itis detected by this analysis that the received DSN is the “failed”notification of the sent E-mail, error notification informationindicative of “failed” notification of the sent E-mail is generated bythe speaker or the LCD and LED of the FAX operation unit 1-2 oroutputted by using the record unit 1-4. Therefore, the user cancertainly recognize the fact that the sent E-mail does not reach thedesignated destination. Moreover, the reliability for the facsimiletransmission through the Internet can be improved.

Although the error notification information is generated by the speakeror the LCD and LED of the FAX operation unit 1-2 or outputted by usingthe record unit 1-4, the error notification information can be alsogenerated by combining one or more of them.

<Sixth Embodiment>

The sixth embodiment of the invention will now be described withreference to FIGS. 25 and 26. FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing aconstruction of an Internet facsimile apparatus according to the sixthembodiment of the invention. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example ofa communication management report which is outputted from the InternetFAX apparatus in FIG. 25.

As shown in FIG. 25, the Internet FAX apparatus has a network controlunit (hereinafter, abbreviated to “NCU”) 2502 connected to a public linenetwork (PSTN) 2544. In order to use the NCU 2502 for data communicationwith a telephone network or the like, the NCU 2502 performs a connectioncontrol of a telephone exchange network by connecting to a line terminalof the telephone network, or the like, switches to a data communicationpath, and selectively switches a connection (CML OFF) between the publicline network 2544 and a telephone 2504 and a connection (CML ON) betweenthe public line network 2544 and a hybrid unit 2506. The NCU 2502 andtelephone 2504 are connected by a signal line 2502 a. The NCU 2502 andhybrid unit 2506 are connected by a signal line 2502 c. The switchingoperation of the NCU 2502 is controlled by a CPU 2522, which will beexplained hereinlater. In the normal state, the connection between thepublic line network 2544 and telephone 2504 is selected.

The hybrid unit 2506 separates a transmission signal from a facsimiletransmission system which is transmitted through the public line network2544 and a reception signal to a facsimile reception system which isreceived through the public line network 2544.

The facsimile transmission system has a reader 2514. The reader 2514reads information of an original and outputs its read data to a bus2526. The read data is once stored into an RAM 2518 and, thereafter, itis read out by the CPU 2522 and encoded. The encoded data is outputtedto a modem 2508 through the bus 2526.

The modem 2508 executes a modulating process to the encoded datainputted through the bus 2526, thereby forming a modulation signal. Themodem 2508 executes a demodulating process to the reception signalfetched from the hybrid unit 2506 through a signal line 2506 a, therebyforming demodulation data. The modulating process and demodulatingprocess are executed on the basis of the ITU-T recommendation V.8, V.21,V.27ter, V.29, V.17, and V.34. Contents of the modulating anddemodulating processes by the modem 2508 are instructed by signals whichare supplied from the CPU 2522 through the bus 2526. A transmitting modeis determined by the instructed modulating and demodulating processes.As instructions which are supplied from the CPU 2522 to the modem 2508through the bus 2526, there are instructions regarding a sending-mode, areceiving mode, a transmission speed, and the like.

The modulation signal formed by the modem 2508 is outputted to an adder2512 through a signal line 2508 a. The adder 2512 adds the modulationsignal from the modem 2508 and a signal inputted from a caller 2510through a signal line 2510 a and outputs a resultant addition signal tothe hybrid unit 2506 through a signal line 2512 a. The caller 2510outputs a selection signal of a DTMF in accordance with telephone numberinformation inputted from the CPU 2522 through the bus 2526. The hybridunit 2506 sends the addition signal from the adder 2512 as atransmission signal to the public line network 2544 via the NCU 2502.

On the other hand, in the facsimile reception system, the signalreceived from a partner apparatus through the NCU 2502 is outputted fromthe hybrid unit 2506 to the modem 2508 through the signal line 2506 a.As mentioned above, the modem executes the demodulating process to thereception signal fetched through the signal line 2506 a, thereby formingthe demodulation data. The demodulation data formed by the modem 2508 issent to the CPU 2522 through the bus 2526. The CPU 2522 executes aprocess such as decoding or the like to the demodulation data, storesthe decoded data into the RAM 2518 through the bus 2526, or outputs itto a recorder 2516 through the bus 2526. The recorder 2516 sequentiallyrecords the data fetched through the bus 2526 onto a recording paperevery line.

The CPU 2522 controls the whole apparatus in accordance with a controlprogram stored in an ROM 2524 and executes a transmission controlprocedure. The RAM 2518 is used as a work area for the control by theCPU 2522. An area to store communication management information table,which will be explained hereinlater, is provided in the RAM 2518.Further, an area to store information which is received into a memory isprovided in the RAM 2518.

An instruction is inputted to the CPU 2522 through an operation unit2520. The operation unit 2520 has a function setting key, one-touchkeys, abbreviation dial keys, ten-key, a start key, a stop key, variousinformation registering keys, and the like. When the key operation isexecuted, corresponding information is inputted to the CPU 2522 throughthe bus 2526. A display unit (not shown) for displaying an apparatusstate, a destination, its telephone number information, a warningmessage, and the like is provided for the operation unit 2520.

A plurality of providers (A, B, C) 2528, 2530, and 2532 are enclosed inthe public line network 2544. The providers (A, B, C) 2528, 2530, and2532 can be connected to providers (D, E) 2534 and 2536 and a facsimileapparatus (FAXB) 2538 through an Internet 2546 and can be also connectedto facsimile apparatuses (FAXC, FAXD) 2540 and 2542 through theproviders (D, E) 2534 and 2536.

The providers A and D support the facsimile communication through theInternet in a real-time manner according to the ITU-T T.38. The providerB supports the facsimile communication through the Internet in a simplemode and a full mode according the ITU-T T.37. The provider C supportsthe facsimile communication according the ITU-T T.30 with the publicline network 2544 and supports the facsimile communication in the simplemode according the ITU-T T.37 with the Internet 2546. The provider Esupports the facsimile communication in the full mode according theITU-T T.37. In the simple mode of the ITU-T T.37 through the Internet,an ability confirmation and a delivery status notification cannot beperformed with the partner apparatus upon facsimile transmission throughthe Internet. According to the full mode of the ITU-T T.37 and the ITU-TT.38, an ability confirmation and a delivery status notification cannotbe performed with the partner apparatus upon facsimile transmission.

In the embodiment, the apparatus has a plurality of communicatingfunctions for performing a facsimile transmission via each provider A,B, C, D, or E. When the facsimile transmission via each provider A, B,C, D, or E is executed by each communicating function, communicationmanagement information of the facsimile transmission is formed andstored into communication management table in the RAM 2518. When thefacsimile transmission is executed through the Internet according to theITU-T T.37, communication management information describing the factthat it is necessary to confirm the communication result of thefacsimile transmission is formed. The communication managementinformation of up to 40 cases can be stored into the communicationmanagement table. A list of the communication management informationstored in the communication management table can be outputted as acommunication management report by the recorder 2516.

For example, as shown in FIG. 26, the communication management reportincludes items such as communication number, identification informationof the transmission or reception, receiver information, communicationresult, and communication whose confirmation is needed. For example, thefacsimile transmission of each of the communication Nos. “0002”, “0005”,and “0008” is a transmission such that although the transmission to thecorresponding provider was successfully finished, whether theinformation has reached the receiver or not cannot be discriminated. Forthose transmissions, OK is described in the column of each communicationresult. However, since it is actually impossible to discriminate whetherthe information reached the receiver or not, a mark “◯” indicative ofthe necessity of the confirmation about whether the information hasreached the receiver or not is written in the column of eachcommunication in which the confirmation is necessary.

With respect to the transmission of the communication No. “0002”, incase of the facsimile transmission in the simple mode of the ITU-T T.37,the mark “◯” indicative of the necessity of the confirmation aboutwhether the information has reached the receiver or not is written, andin case of the facsimile transmission in the full mode of the ITU-TT.37, a mark “-” indicative of the unnecessity of the confirmation aboutwhether the information has reached the receiver or not is written.

As mentioned above, in the embodiment, when the facsimile transmissionis executed through the Internet of the ITU-T T.37, the communicationmanagement information describing the fact that it is necessary toconfirm the communication result of the facsimile transmission isformed. Therefore, with respect to the facsimile transmission in whichwhether the information has reached the receiver or not cannot bediscriminated among the facsimile transmissions through the Internet,the necessity of the confirmation about whether the information hasreached the receiver or not can be easily known.

<Another Embodiment>

Naturally, the function which the Internet FAX apparatus of the firstembodiment has and the function which the Internet FAX apparatus of thesecond embodiment has can be realized by one apparatus.

Although the embodiments have been described with respect to oneapparatus such as an Internet FAX apparatus, the invention is alsoapplied to an image communication system comprising a plurality ofapparatuses such as computer apparatus, scanner apparatus, printerapparatus, and the like.

Although the programs for realizing the functions described in theembodiments have been stored in the ROM 1-5, those functions can be alsoaccomplished by a method whereby a memory medium in which program codesof software for realizing the functions have been recorded is suppliedto a system or an apparatus and a CPU of the system or apparatus readsout the program codes stored in the memory medium and executes theactual processes based on the read program codes.

In this case, the program codes themselves read out from the memorymedium realize the functions of the embodiments mentioned above. Thememory medium in which the program codes have been stored constructs thepresent invention. As a memory medium for supplying the program codes,for example, it is possible to use a floppy disk, an optical disk, amagnetooptic disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatilememory card, an ROM, or the like.

Obviously, the invention incorporates not only a case where the CPUexecutes the read-out program codes, so that the functions of theembodiments mentioned above are realized, but also a case where on thebasis of instructions of the program codes, an OS (operating system) orthe like which is operating executes a part or all of the actualprocesses, and the functions of the embodiments mentioned above arerealized by those processes.

Further, the invention also incorporates a case where the program codesread out from the memory medium are written into a memory provided for afunction expanding board inserted into the apparatus or a functionexpanding unit connected to the apparatus and, thereafter, on the basisof instructions of the program codes, a CPU or the like provided for thefunction expanding board or function expanding unit executes a part orall of the actual processes, and the functions of the embodimentsmentioned above are realized by those processes.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image communicating apparatus which is capableof performing E-mail communication via a network, comprising: aprocessor for executing process steps, and a memory for storing processsteps executed by the processor, wherein the process steps cause theprocessor to function as: a transmitting unit, configured to send anE-mail accompanied by an image file to a transmission destination; anadding unit, configured to add, to the sent E-mail, information forrequesting a message disposition notification for the sent E-mail; areceiving unit, configured to receive an E-mail and to receive a messagedisposition notification for the sent E-mail; a managing unit,configured to manage transmission management information of the sentE-mail; and an analyzing unit, configured to analyze the receivedmessage disposition notification, wherein the analysis includes a searchof the received message disposition notification for dispositioninformation which indicates how the sent E-mail was processed by areceiver of the sent E-mail, and an analysis of the dispositioninformation so as to obtain a determination based on the dispositioninformation of whether the result of sending the sent E-mail wassuccessful or was not successful; wherein the managing units sets thedetermination to the transmission management information for the sentE-mail, whereby the transmission management information for sent E-mailthereby indicates that the result of sending the sent E-mail wassuccessful or not successful.
 2. An image communicating apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the adding unit adds, to a header of thesent E-mail, the information for requesting the message dispositionnotification to the transmission destination of the sent E-mail.
 3. Animage communicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, after thetransmitting unit sends the sent E-mail, the managing unit sets, to thetransmission management information, information indicating that themessage disposition notification is not yet received, until thereceiving unit receives the message disposition notification.
 4. Animage communicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sentE-mail sent by the transmitting unit is sent to the transmissiondestination via an E-mail server, and wherein the transmissionmanagement information includes information indicating a result of thesending of the sent E-mail sent by the transmitting unit to the E-mailserver.
 5. An image communicating apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising an output unit, configured to visibly output thetransmission management information.
 6. An image communicating apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein the output unit visibly outputs atransmission result report.
 7. An image communicating apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein the output unit visibly outputs acommunication management report.
 8. The image communicating apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the disposition information included inthe message disposition notification for the sent E-mail includes atleast one status indicator out of a plurality of possible statusindicators, and wherein the analyzing unit obtains the determinationthat the result of the sending of the sent E-mail was successful whenthe message disposition notification includes certain ones of thepossible status indicators, and obtains the determination that theresult of the sending of the sent E-mail was not successful when themessage disposition notification includes certain other ones of thepossible status indicators.
 9. The image communicating apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein there are at least six different possibleindications in the disposition information included in the messagedisposition notification which indicate how the sent E-mail wasprocessed by the receiver of the sent E-mail, and the determination ofwhether the result of sending the sent E-mail was successful or was notsuccessful is based on which of the indications is in the receiveddisposition information.
 10. An image communicating apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the sent E-mail includes a message identifier andwherein the message identifier forms part of the transmission managementinformation for the sent E-mail; wherein the analysis of the receivedmessage disposition notification includes a search for a messageidentifier in the received message disposition notification and a searchof a stored plurality of transmission management information so as toretrieve transmission management information having a message identifiermatching the message identifier in the received message dispositionnotification; and wherein it is the retrieved transmission managementinformation that is set by the determination.
 11. A control method usedin an image communication apparatus which is capable of performingE-mail communication via a network, the method comprising: adding, to anE-mail, information for requesting a message disposition notificationfor the E-mail; sending the E-mail to which the information forrequesting the message disposition notification was added to atransmission destination of the sent E-mail, wherein the E-mail is sentaccompanied by an image file; managing transmission managementinformation of the sent E-mail; receiving a message dispositionnotification for the sent E-mail; analyzing the received messagedisposition notification, wherein the analysis includes a search of thereceived message disposition notification for disposition informationwhich indicates how the sent E-mail was processed by a receiver of thesent E-mail, and an analysis of the disposition information so as toobtain a determination based on the disposition information of whetherthe result of sending the sent E-mail was successful or was notsuccessful; and setting the determination to the transmission managementinformation for the sent E-mail, whereby the transmission managementinformation for the sent E-mail thereby indicates that the result ofsending the sent E-mail was successful or not successful.
 12. Thecontrol method according to claim 11, wherein the dispositioninformation included in the message disposition notification for thesent E-mail includes at least one status indicator out of a plurality ofpossible status indicators, and wherein the determination that theresult of the sending of the sent E-mail was successful is obtained whenthe message disposition notification includes certain ones of thepossible status indicators, and wherein the determination that theresult of the sending of the sent E-mail was not successful is obtainedwhen the message disposition notification includes certain other ones ofthe possible status indicators.
 13. The control method according toclaim 11, wherein there are at least six different possible indicationsin the disposition information included in the received messagedisposition notification which indicate how the sent E-mail wasprocessed by the receiver of the sent E-mail, and the determination ofwhether the result of sending the sent E-mail was successful or was notsuccessful is obtained based on which of the indications is in thereceived disposition information.
 14. The control method according toclaim 11, wherein the sent E-mail includes a message identifier andwherein the message identifier forms part of the transmission managementinformation for the sent E-mail; wherein the analysis of the receivedmessage disposition notification includes a search for a messageidentifier in the received message disposition notification and a searchof a stored plurality of transmission management information so as toretrieve transmission management information having a message identifiermatching the message identifier in the received message dispositionnotification; and wherein it is the retrieved transmission managementinformation that is set by the determination.
 15. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium which stores therein a computer programto cause a computer to execute a control method used in an imagecommunication apparatus which is capable of performing E-mailcommunication via a network, the method comprising: adding, to anE-mail, information for requesting a message disposition notificationfor the E-mail; sending the E-mail to which the information forrequesting the message disposition notification was added to atransmission destination of the sent E-mail, wherein the E-mail is sentaccompanied by an image file; managing transmission managementinformation of the sent E-mail; receiving a message dispositionnotification for the sent E-mail; analyzing the received messagedisposition notification, wherein the analysis includes a search of thereceived message disposition notification for disposition informationwhich indicates how the sent E-mail was processed by a receiver of thesent E-mail, and an analysis of the disposition information so as toobtain a determination based on the disposition information of whetherthe result of sending the sent E-mail was successful or was notsuccessful; and setting the determination to the transmission managementinformation for the sent E-mail, whereby the transmission managementinformation for the sent E-mail thereby indicates that the result ofsending the sent E-mail was successful or not successful.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15,wherein the disposition information included in the message dispositionnotification for the sent E-mail includes at least one status indicatorout of a plurality of possible status indicators, and wherein thedetermination that the result of the sending of the sent E-mail wassuccessful is obtained when the message disposition notificationincludes certain ones of the possible status indicators, and wherein thedetermination that the result of the sending of the sent E-mail was notsuccessful is obtained when the message disposition notificationincludes certain other ones of the possible status indicators.
 17. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15,wherein there are at least six different possible indications in thedisposition information included in the received message dispositionnotification which indicate how the sent E-mail was processed by thereceiver of the sent E-mail, and the determination of whether the resultof sending the sent E-mail was successful or was not successful isobtained based on which of the indications is in the receiveddisposition information.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium according to claim 15, wherein the sent E-mail includes amessage identifier and wherein the message identifier forms part of thetransmission management information for the sent E-mail; wherein theanalysis of the received message disposition notification includes asearch for a message identifier in the received message dispositionnotification and a search of a stored plurality of transmissionmanagement information so as to retrieve transmission managementinformation having a message identifier matching the message identifierin the received message disposition notification; and wherein it is theretrieved transmission management information that is set by thedetermination.
 19. An image communicating apparatus which is capable ofperforming E-mail communication via a network, comprising: a processorfor executing process steps, and a memory for storing process stepsexecuted by the processor, wherein the process steps cause the processorto function as: a transmitting unit, configured to send an E-mailaccompanied by an image file to a transmission destination; an addingunit, configured to add, to the sent E-mail, information for requestinga message disposition notification for the E-mail sent by thetransmitting unit to the transmission destination of the sent E-mail; areceiving unit, configured to receive an E-mail and to receive a messagedisposition notification for the sent E-mail; a managing unit,configured to manage transmission management information of the sentE-mail, wherein the transmission management information includes aresult field which is set to a first value before receipt of the messagedisposition notification for the sent E-mail; and an update unit,configured to update the result field in the transmission managementinformation for the sent E-mail to a second value indicating success ofthe sending of the sent E-mail or indicating not-success of the sendingof the sent E-mail; wherein the result field is updated to the secondvalue based on an analysis of disposition information in the receivedmessage disposition notification so as to obtain a determination basedon the disposition information of whether the result of sending the sentE-mail was successful or was not successful.
 20. A control method usedin an image communication apparatus which is capable of performingE-mail communication via a network, the method comprising: adding, to anE-mail, information for requesting a message disposition notificationfor the E-mail; sending the E-mail to which the information forrequesting the message disposition notification was added to atransmission destination of the sent E-mail, wherein the E-mail is sentaccompanied by an image file; managing transmission managementinformation of the sent E-mail, wherein the transmission managementinformation includes a result field; receiving a message dispositionnotification for the sent E-mail; setting the result field of thetransmission management information to a first value before receipt ofthe message disposition notification for the sent E-mail; and updatingthe result field in the transmission management information for the sentE-mail to a second value indicating success of the sending of the sentE-mail or indicating not-success of the sending of the sent E-mail;wherein the result field is updated to the second value based on ananalysis of disposition information in the received message dispositionnotification so as to obtain a determination based on the dispositioninformation of whether the result of sending the sent E-mail wassuccessful or was not successful.
 21. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium which stores therein a computer program to cause acomputer to execute a control method used in an image communicationapparatus which is capable of performing E-mail communication via anetwork, the method comprising: adding, to an E-mail, information forrequesting a message disposition notification for the E-mail; sendingthe E-mail to which the information for requesting the messagedisposition notification was added to a transmission destination of thesent E-mail, wherein the E-mail is sent accompanied by an image file;managing transmission management information of the sent E-mail, whereinthe transmission management information includes a result field;receiving a message disposition notification for the sent E-mail;setting the result field of the transmission management information to afirst value before receipt of the message disposition notification forthe sent E-mail; and updating the result field in the transmissionmanagement information for the sent E-mail to a second value indicatingsuccess of the sending of the sent E-mail or indicating not-success ofthe sending of the sent E-mail; wherein the result field is updated tothe second value based on an analysis of disposition information in thereceived message disposition notification so as to obtain adetermination based on the disposition information of whether the resultof sending the sent E-mail was successful or was not successful.